Global Forest Issues Dave McGill Professor/Extension Specialist Forest Resources Management.
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Transcript of Global Forest Issues Dave McGill Professor/Extension Specialist Forest Resources Management.
Outline
• Defining “forest” for international policy and inventory
• Deforestation and illegal logging• International efforts to curb deforestation
International actions concerning forests
• Two international conferences in the 1990s focusing on improving global environmental issues.– 1992 UNCED “Earth Summit” in Rio de Janiero – 1997 UNFCCC in Kyoto, Japan
• Terms used in discussions:– Deforestation, reforestation, afforestation, old-growth
forests, forest biodiversity, sustainable forest management.
• IUFRO 6.03 took on project to survey definitionsSource:Lund, H.G. 2002. When is a forest not a forest. J. For. 100(8):21-27.
Lund 2002—When is a forest not a forest? J. For. 100(8):21-27.
• Worldwide survey of published definitions.• Found 149 definitions for tree.– Some of these included “palms, bamboo, shrubs,
vines, creepers, canes, coppice shoots, and orchids.
• Definitions of forest were more complex– Administrative unit– Land use– Land cover
Source:Lund, H.G. 2002. When is a forest not a forest. J. For. 100(8):21-27.
Thresholds for defining forests
• Lowest thresholds– Area: 0.01 ha; Belgium, Northern Mariana Islands– Crown Cover: 1%; Iran
• Highest thresholds – Area: 100 ha; Malawi, Papua New Guinea– Crown cover: 80%; Malawi, Zimbabwe
Source:Lund, H.G. 2002. When is a forest not a forest. J. For. 100(8):21-27.
Forest Resources Assessments
• About every 5 years, the UN FAO monitors the state of the worlds forests.
• Between 1948 and 1963 these Forest Resources Assessments were solely questionnaire based.
• 1990 was the first FRA to use remote sensing to corroborate inventories.
• 2010 FRA will use questionnaires and thematic studies as well as a complete global remote sensing survey.
2005 FRA Definitions
• Have 3 categories related to tree covered lands– Forest
• Minimum 0.5 ha; trees able to reach 5m; and greater than 10% canopy cover. Excludes agroforestry and fruit tree orchards, urban parks and gardens.
– Other wooded land• Land not classified as forest; 0.5 ha and trees attaining 5m with
5-10% canopy cover. Excludes predominately agricultural and urban land uses.
– Other land with tree cover• Minimum 0.5 ha; 5m canopy height; >10% canopy cover;
Includes trees planted in ag and urban settings.
2005 FRA Key Findings
• 4 billion ha of forest• Deforestation continues but at a decreasing
rate– 1990-2000: 8.9 million ha per year– 2000-2005: 7.3 million ha per year
• Primary forests 36% of total forest area– These are forests that are no visible indications of
human activity and ecological processes are not significantly disturbed.
Planted Forests
• Comprise 7% of the total area in forests worldwide.
• Provide opportunities for economic, ecological, and social benefits.
• Plantations for products and for environmental services.
Planted Forests
• Center for International Forestry identifies 5 different types of planted forests:– Industrial plantations– Home and farm plantations– Environmental plantations– Managed secondary forest with planting– Restored natural/secondary forest
Adapted from Evans 2009
• Deforestation—forest is cut by people and is then used for other purposes, primarily agriculture or infrastructure
• Degradation—forest composition and quality is modified, but no net loss in area..
Causes of Deforestation
• Direct factors– Conversion to agriculture; wood overexploitation;
infrastructure development.• Indirect factors– Road construction leads to increased access.
• Underlying driving forces (triggering mechanisms)– Demographic, economic, technological, cultural.
Sources: JP Lanly. 2003; Geist and Lambin, 2002.
Illegal Logging
Extent • Timber harvesting activities
that are inconsistent with national or subnational laws.
• In some countries, as much a 80-90% of timber harvested. True amount unknown.
Sources: Smith 2002; photo: www.villageearth.org/pages/Projects/Peru/peru...
Impacts of illegal logging
A global issue• National loss of revenue • Environmental damage• Socioeconomic effects
(loss of jobs)• Reduced access to materials
for subsistence.• Decreases profitability of
legally harvested timber.
UN-REDD
• UN-REDD—UN Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions of Deforestation and Degradation
• Originated from discussion of climate change under the UNFCCC.
• Founded on the notion that 20% of greenhouse gas emissions were due to DD.
• Is a form of payment for environmental services program.
UN-REDD
• Idea is to develop a financial mechanism to support developing countries in modifying forest use behavior.
• Scope of program addresses deforestation, degradation, and carbon stocks.
• State of REDD: 9 nations involved in “quick-start program” including Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania and Zambia; Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Viet Nam; Bolivia, Panama and Paraguay
UN-REDD
• This “quick start” program is expected to yield some of the successes and challenges of this payment for services program.
• Negotiations still underway for unresolved issues:– Financing and distribution– Monitoring, reporting and verification– Stakeholder involvement– Environmental and social co-benefits